5 Tips for Managing your Workload

12/12/16

Here are 5 brilliant tips from an experienced teacher to help you stay afloat during 2017. If you have some more remember to share them with us via the comments section.

I have been teaching for 15 years, so by now I have got to grips with managing my workload. However even with my experience, every year I find myself swamped at some point, so here are my top tips to avoid allowing work to completely rule your life:

Stick to a time frame

Your work will never be done completely, so don’t try and get everything finished. Stick to a time frame, and then stop working and go home.

Make a list

Lists are one of the most powerful tools at your disposal! Maybe they will seem never-ending, but ticking off completed tasks is always a good feeling (even if three more jobs appear).

Find the place you work best

Don’t stay late at work and take your work home, it has to be either or. Some people work best at school, others at home. If you try to do both, you will burn yourself out.

Go home early

Keep a work life balance and go home early occasionally. Go shopping; out for drinks or to the gym, whatever helps you relax. It actually feels great to leave early occasionally.

Don’t check emails at home

Don’t check work emails at home, you will only get stressed and do work.

I have fallen foul of each and every one of these, especially when feeling the pressure of exam results, management appraisals, etc. I quit teaching for a year as it all got too much for me, and I learnt a lot doing supply and meeting a variety of staff who managed themselves in different ways. Holiday planning is an exception to the rule, but during term time you need to pace yourselves. It’s a long year. The occasional lapse is fine, but we are here to work to live, please don’t live to work!

Do you have any tips to add? Share them with us on Twitter and Facebook.